KCI TERMINAL COOLING TOWER

Anyone who’s ever spent a summer in Kansas City knows that air conditioning is more than a luxury. This is doubly the case with a modern airport terminal with expansive glass glad walls. The on-time completed cooling tower for the new Kansas City International (KCI) Terminal is already providing cooling to the now enclosed sections of the terminal structures, insuring stable temperatures for proper final fitment of interior components. Its success highlights the new Hot-Dip solutions to old Hot-Dip problems!

The new KCI terminal project differs from many airport expansions in that the new terminal replaces rather than adds to existing facilities. Addressing the primary complaint of the 1972 built three terminal arrangement; excessive walking distances especially during transfers, the new 1,000,000 square foot single terminal was designed to reduce the distance between gates and simplify their navigation. Given the central location of Kansas City the express desire of this project is to transform KCI into a major hub, bringing substantial benefits to the city and surrounding metro areas of Missouri and Kansas.

"Like any mega project the success of the entire terminal project, both in terms of project management and end-result usefulness is the sum of all its parts. The cooling tower component needed to be reliable, durable and cost effective and delivered on time with no headaches."

While only representing about 40 of the 9,000 tons of structural steel used in this new terminal complex the cooling tower is literally corrosion central thanks to constant condensate and humidity generation. Like any mega project the success of the entire terminal project, both in terms of project management and end-result usefulness is the sum of all its parts. The cooling tower component needed to be reliable, durable and cost effective and delivered on time with no headaches.

Hot-Dip contributed to each of these goals. With its repeatedly proven long-life durability, it was a natural for this application. Historically though the logistical process to actually get something galvanized has been a detriment to the selection of Hot-Dip itself. Long processing delays due to insufficient capacity during peak times, lost and damaged items while in the charge of the galvanizer and inconsistent quality even between identical repeating products have always been the counterweights to the performance miracle of zinc over steel itself.

This very small Hot-Dip project highlights the very big benefits that state-of-the-art galvanizing can bring:

• scheduling systems precisely identify several capacity utilization factors, insuring reliable delivery commitments
• multiple high-capacity large dimension plants provide ample capacity year-round for jobs large or small
• computerized inventory control system identifies every bundle throughout the process avoiding mix-ups
• fully automated processing ensures every dip consistently complies with defined methodology and standards
• automated data collection provides robust traceability and feeds continuous improvement

A new airport benefits from a new way to galvanize, building on all the unbeatable benefits of Hot-Dip while addressing the long-standing logistical frustrations and weaknesses of galvanizing. This is the New Way to Galvanize.

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